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Trade Rumors and Free Agent TalkTrade rumors, transactions, and free agent talk. Rumors must use the RUMOR prefix in thread title. Proposals must contain the PROPOSAL prefix in the thread title.

Mark Fraser is a good third pairing defenceman that can fight. Very little offensive upside but he's a big, strong, tough defenceman. He may have become expendable due to the depth of defencemen the Maple Leafs have. Just behind Frazer McLaren and Colton Orr, Fraser was our third toughest guy and he is willing to take on any heavyweight in the league.

Not including Cody Franson, the following players have shown that they are either locks on the team or they deserve a spot: Dion Phaneuf, Jake Gardiner, Carl Gunnarsson, Paul Ranger, Morgan Rielly, Stuart Percy and Andrew MacWilliam. There is John-Michael Liles, who has a tough contract to move.

That's possibly 8-10 defencemen capable of starting the season in the NHL.

Agreed although some people seem to think the Oilers need a goon to protect some of the smaller guys. Which has questionable validity at the best of times but especially so in a league with an instigator rule (protection aspect).

More importantly though how much protection are Oilers players going to get from an 8th defenseman.

Would love the Oil to get him cause that would mean my Habs wouldn't have to face him as much

Probably one of the best defensive defensemen on the Leaf last year

Big & mean and led the Buds in +/- overall and blocked shots and hits on D - very underrated player and can see him getting a big raise this offseason - not quite what Gorges got cause that was an overpay but $2.5MM/yr would be fair

Oil fans that don't recognize the need for a guy like this deserve K Lowe and his 6 Stanley Cups at the helm

Would love the Oil to get him cause that would mean my Habs wouldn't have to face him as much

Probably one of the best defensive defensemen on the Leaf last year

Big & mean and led the Buds in +/- overall and blocked shots and hits on D - very underrated player and can see him getting a big raise this offseason - not quite what Gorges got cause that was an overpay but $2.5MM/yr would be fair

Oil fans that don't recognize the need for a guy like this deserve K Lowe and his 6 Stanley Cups at the helm

We have a full lineup of dmen better than him, and multiple guys that do/will do Fraser's job better than him. There's simply no room for him

We have a full lineup of dmen better than him, and multiple guys that do/will do Fraser's job better than him. There's simply no room for him

Who? There's nobody on the Oil D that would be able to intimidate an opponent from taking cheapshots on their stars like Fraser would and still play a solid 3rd pairing, hell Ference can't even beat up Crosby

My buddy of mine is good friends with him. He was considering signing a two-way deal just to stay in Toronto, because he likes the proximity of the Marlies to the Leafs when he gets called up. The Leafs gave in and gave him a one way deal so I don't think they are looking to trade him.

Also, Andrew Ferrence may not be a heavyweight tough guy, but he can hold his own:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spearmint Rhino

Who? There's nobody on the Oil D that would be able to intimidate an opponent from taking cheapshots on their stars like Fraser would and still play a solid 3rd pairing, hell Ference can't even beat up Crosby

Crosby is like 5-1 with his 1 defeat being to Ballard and he took Ballard down.

Fraser isn't really a heavyweight. He's an upper middleweight who doesn't fair too well against the heavyweights.

True, he's not in the hired goon category, but as far as guys taking a regular shift he's pretty good and fought 18 times last year between NHL and AHL and didn't lose many, can't see it a bad thing to have him around for the likes of Eberle, Yakupov, Nuge but the Oil figure they're full on D so be it

True, he's not in the hired goon category, but as far as guys taking a regular shift he's pretty good and fought 18 times last year between NHL and AHL and didn't lose many, can't see it a bad thing to have him around for the likes of Eberle, Yakupov, Nuge but the Oil figure they're full on D so be it

Okay, I'll chime in...it wouldn't be a bad thing to have Fraser on our team, for sure. Problem is that we finally have some pro competition to our bottom pairing d and 7th dman. While Fraser would be nice for free and probably an upgrade, it's not necessarily something we need. Last year and many years previous, yes, we would have NEEDED Fraser.
So unless we can get Fraser for nothing, I don't see anything happening here.

The question mark is a spot currently open to any of Potter, Grebeshkov, Belov, and what's his name we got for Horcoff (Larsen). And I may be forgetting someone. We don't need to confuse the situation. Maybe if we swapped one of these d-men (not named Belov) out for Fraser, it would make sense, but even then...probably not.

I'd love to make a move to get McLaren though. We need his toughness, and he could actually fill a spot on the roster.

We have a full lineup of dmen better than him, and multiple guys that do/will do Fraser's job better than him. There's simply no room for him

You literally have nobody that can do Fraser's job better than him nor do you have a full lineup of d-men better than him. Good enough to play all season for a playoff team but not good enough to crack what has easily been one of the worst d-cores the past few years and possibly the worst team in general. Interesting. With all those mega super awesome superstar forwards and that great d-core you apparently have Edmonton should be a lock for the playoffs this season.

Too many bodies with Oilers right now..
Hunt looked solid but got sent down, Klefbom got one preseason game and got sent down, Marincin looked good but got sent down.

Smid,Petry,J.Schultz, N.Schultz and Ference are locks. Belov looked solid last game and should be lock for a spot. Larsen, Fedun, Grebeshkov are still kicking around. Nurse has looked good and is also still up.

He absolutely would. I really liked his game last year and would be all over this...if it were not for the fact we already have 9 NHL D-men signed. Just a logjam there. If we could get rid of N. Schultz things might open up a little.